Inclined Bed Therapy

[skootz]

Can anyone recommend something I can buy to do this? (bear in mind I am in the UK )

A good find by fellow MS'er (on FB) David Leven was the following:

Plastic Bed Raisers
<shortened url>

Cheers,

Pinda

wow.
Where can I find a similar product in US ?

[Cece]

Amazon.com

[esta]

my hubbie just got someone to make our blocks.

I have to tell you, we went from 4 to 6 inches last week, with huge changes. I've never felt so refreshed in the AM for years. my feet are warmer, my head is clearer, breathing deeper, I'm stronger, my bladder is fab...
i've made other changes like adding LDN 3 months ago, and an energy bracelette etc, but nothing as dramatic so quick a positive as this.

we went to 7 iches last year for months, but I always complained about more pain, sleepless niight etc., then after the CCSVI procedure and somethngs I had read, went down to 4 inches, which felt way better after 7, but 6 iches seems to be my magic number.

so, I guess what I'm trying to say is - experiment with different heights - you'll know within a week.

[powereds]

Hello Andrew

Will write soon explaining my personal situation. Just to let you know that I inclined my bed last December by 4inches and have now raised this to 6 inches as the 4 inch incline helped but hoping the 6 inch will be even better.

My eyesight has deteriorated alot - can you advise whether it sometimes happens that things get worse before they get better.

Regards

Mark Federici

[AndrewKFletcher]

Hi Mark

Hope things have settled down, just read your post, sorry about delay in reply as have been very busy on a major project of mine.

Certainly people can still have relapses, though they tend to occur far less than when sleeping flat and less intense and prolonged.

Some people have reported a worsening of symptoms and the arrival of new symptoms, mainly electrical stabbing pains that move around the limbs rather than remaining in one place.

As for eyesight deterioration, the contrary has frequently been reported by people with ms using IBT so a bit puzzled if this is anything other than a temporary problem.

Best

Andrew

[AndrewKFletcher]

I know this might sound too obvious but have you tried your old spectacles to see if your sight is going in the right direction?

[mag00]

Hi folks,

My spouse and I have been sleeping on an inclined
bed for approximately 1 year. Both of us have felt
improvements and are happy that we tried it.

Unfortunately, my significant other can no longer sleep
inclined due to bad leg vein valves. The specialist treating
recommended against using an inclined bed.

Fortunately, since my treatment for CCSVI, my ccsvi score
has reduced from 4/5 to 0/5. I'm told that my veins now
appear "normal".

Since sleeping together results in hours of cuddling and unscheduled
sexual activity, we're not interested in sleeping apart. ;)

We'll both be monitoring each others reaction to sleeping flat and
will report back our personal experiences.

It has been several nights since we flattened our bed and so far haven't
noticed anything negative. We already are not missing having to wake up
numerous times nightly to climb back up our bed to where the pillows are. (or fixing the blankets, or removing our undergarments from our bums).

Sleeping inclined took some time getting used to. Reversing that took
zero effort.

If it turns out that IBT is necessary for me, we'll cross that bridge when
we get there. My spouse is having surgery in the future to deal with the
bad valves. Perhaps enabling our use of IBT again.

Take care,
Mag00

[1eye]

Since I had the still-sick report from follow-up I tried re-inclining my bed. My symptoms seemed to accelerate, but I have been fighting a skin infection as well, so that might have been making things worse. I had a long course of antibiotics, and was using antibiotic skin ointment. The wounds were still healing very slowly and backsliding, so I tried de-inclining the bed. I was treated a year ago and was thinking I needed re-treatment.

Because of the infection, I have lost ground in my exercise. I have not been surprised, however, to see improvements even 1 year on. Anyway last night I slept through the night and had dreams!

Foot is healing faster, feeling better. No more antibiotics. Go figure.

[AndrewKFletcher]

Hi

Thank you for posting this important change over back to sleeping flat. Please keep us informed as to changes positive or negative.

Varicose veins which are of course a result of venous insufficiency are "by expert opinion" better off when raised. However, as IBT showed in the very first 4 weeks with my wife and a nurse, who both slept inclined and both had varicose veins, that the veins shrank over a 4 week period, my wife's went completely flat and photographs of more serious venous insufficiency, before and after IBT are available under the varicose veins thread in the forum at http://inclinedbedtherapy.com.

Nevertheless, we need hard evidence so if you could measure and perhaps discretely photograph an affected VV if only for your own viewing and comparisons it would prove enormously helpful.

Underwear and IBT does not bode well, yes it does ride up and yes you are better off without it.

Look forward to reading more over the coming weeks

Best wishes

Andrew

[AndrewKFletcher]

http://www.inclinedbedtherapy.com/index ... &Itemid=30

The link above provides an independent analysis of IBT from an amateur scientist who set about documenting changes in nocturia (night-time urination) The chart that Bob Spez has provided reflects our own observations and much more. Bob is now reverting back to sleeping flat to crossover his results for comparison.

Link to this post 9 hours ago

Hi Andrew,

My updated log has 16 days of data pre-IBT and 16 days of data with IBT.
The link to the full updated log is:
http://www.inclinedbedtherapy.com/index ... &Itemid=30

The improvement to my nocturia are amazing for 2 weeks of IBT. Here is a summary:

Pre-IBT (8/25 to 9/9/2011) Average times up to urinate per night = 11.9, Avg. output per night = 1200 ml., avg. output per urination = 108 ml, avg. hours in bed per night = 9.1 hrs., avg. morning BP = 126/73, avg. weight = 203 lbs.

Post-IBT (9/10 to 9/25/2011) Averages times up to urinate per night = 5.6, Avg. output per night = 698 ml., avg. output per urination = 137 ml., avg. hours in bed per night = 7.0 hrs, avg. morning BP = 131/73, avg. morning pulse = 74.8, avg. weight = 205 lbs.

As you can see, I am getting up about half as much, voiding almost half as much, and voiding about 20% more per urination. I didn't know what to expect but these results are quite astounding to me.

As I had stated in my previous post I will spend the coming week sleeping flat again in our king size bed to get some comparative numbers. The following week I intend to raise our king size bed 5 degrees at the head.

Otherwise I feel great. I am 65, but for today at least, I feel 45!

Best regards,

Bob

If anyone is willing to repeat Bob's data gathering exercise for comparisons please do not hesitate to contact me at http://inclinedbedtherapy.com

Best wishes

Andrew

[mag00]

Hi Folks,

Report Update:

Back in August 2011 my wife and I ceased IBT due to her venous problems in her leg.
(As recommended by her surgeon) At that time we had been sleeping inclined for one
year with great results.

I was treated in December 2010 and have had a great deal of symptom relief from it.Thus, I
felt I would be "ok" sleeping flat again.

Over the months we noticed a return of our lower back pain as well as reduced quality of sleep.

Well, we're back to sleeping inclined. Lower back pain has almost disappeared and we're sleeping better.

Will keep posting updates.

Thank you AndrewKFletcher!

[AndrewKFletcher]

Mag00 Thank you so much for your update. This is indeed good news and shows a clear connection with posture and lower back pain.

Kind regards

Andrew

[munchkin]

Would a 6 inch foam wedge have the same effect as raising the bed? The wedges slope down to around the level of your hips. My bed has a very heavy wood frame and we are not sure how to raise the mattress. Thanks for any input.

[AndrewKFletcher]

Hi Munchkin

Afraid not. Best way to raise your bed is with either wooden blocks / plastic bed raisers or use a plywood board and some timber to form a wedge under the mattress. This last option is the best way to tilt the bed and affords the head board and footboard to remain vertical.

More information at http://inclinedbedtherapy.com

Andrew

[munchkin]

Thanks for getting back to me so quickly. I kind of thought that might be the answer.